Jamie’s Top 10 Games of 2019

2019 has come and gone, and with it, its fair share of surprises, upsets, triumphs, and troubles. We saw a handful of juggernaut titles rise and fall, and rise again. This dynamic landscape provides plenty of space for a host of unique and dynamic opinions on these games. My strategy in making the decision for my top 10 games of 2019 was primarily that this list should be subjective, basing quality simply on my personal taste and time invested rather than on gross popularity or critical reception. While my list may include some typical picks, I like to diversify a bit by including things like mobile titles. Either way, I hope you enjoy the following selection of my top 10 games of 2019 (listed in no particular order)!

Jamie’s Top 10 Games of 2019

Pokemon Shield

Despite the persistent #dexit
complaints, Pokemon Sword and Shield provided me with hours of
entertaining and compelling game experiences that I won’t soon
forget. The anticipation I experienced leading up to launch made me
feel like a kid again, and the resulting payoff in the game itself
delivered on those expectations. It may seem like a miss to the
hardcore crowd, but this series really got me fired up for the
prospect of a full Pokemon title on something other than
Gameboy.

For anyone who is a fan of our podcast, Super Gamecast 64, you’ll know well that I have a hard time finishing games due to time constraints, but I mainlined Pokemon Shield until completion. Pokemon Shield is far from a perfect game, but the beautiful setting, the compelling new pokemon models, and the collaborative gameplay really solidified this game’s place on my top 10.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s
Awakening

Speaking of nostalgia, It would be
remiss of me to not include one of my personal favorite Legend of
Zelda Titles: Link’s Awakening. The most obvious strength of
this remaster is the art style; the chibi character design fits
perfectly with the absurd storyline this game follows. It’s
borderline manic for a Zelda title, eschewing the traditional
“save the princess” arc for a more ethereal goal.

The diverse cast of characters and cute
world-building that goes into bringing Koholint Island to life is
what makes this game so special. Zelda almost never fails to
disappoint, and this remaster stayed true to the original, while
polishing some older mechanics enough to match consistency with
current game styles.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

I have, admittedly, been a Bloodstained stan since its inception on Kickstarter. It’s no secret that Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of my favorite games
of all time, so any promise of coming close to a spiritual successor
was enough to get my blood pumping. To some, this ambitious homage
fell short of the intended goal. Despite being cursed by a troubled
launch, I think Bloodstained managed to deliver some of the
most memorable set-pieces I’ve ever seen in a sidescroller (I’m
looking at you, pillar room and theatre-in-the-round boss!).

While the dev team may have bitten off
more than they could initially chew, I think their successive fixes
have finalized the stylish Metroidvania into a crystallized product.
I personally loved the gothic style all the way down to the marketing
surrounding release. IGA really knows how to extend his Gothic
obsession to the furthest reaches of his influence.

Archero

If I had to rank this list based on
time played, I think Archero would be number 1. This fun
little mobile game is simple in conception, but difficult in
practice. It’s a bullet hell/roguelike with RPG elements and a
little bit of gacha (it is a mobile game, after all). Yet, despite
the mobile transactions, I don’t ever feel slighted by the
traditional “energy” style of entry cost per run. Each run can
take a significant amount of time and skill to overcome, so Archero provides you with a consistent feeling of growth and accomplishment.

The developers are relatively generous
with their giveaways as well, and consistently push updates that
correspond with real-world events such as holidays. You can’t ask
for much more from a free mobile game, so it makes the sting of
microtransactions hurt a little less when you consider it as support
for active, hard-working development.

Control

Control is the type of game that
makes you question your own sanity. It’s a neat take on the typical
third-person shooter genre with a kick-ass female protagonist. The
story is nearly impossible to follow as a linear narrative, but then
someone drops a nugget of info and a few pieces slide into place. The
telekinesis powers are some of the most fun I’ve seen since the
venerable Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy from 2004.

Each mission requires creative,
persistent adaptation and forces the player to approach the game with
a strategy not often seen in this style of game. There are even some
cool multimedia interjections in the game, with FMV interspersed
through the story. Control is incredibly unique, and the
gameplay is tight. You can’t ask for much more.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

As to be expected from a Souls-style
game, Sekiro is HARD. Like, throw your controller hard.
But that difficulty results in a payoff unlike any other. The relief
you feel after beating a boss you’ve been analyzing and fighting
for hours on end is so habit-forming, it’s hard to put down even
when you’re lightheaded from yoga breathing to keep from throwing a
tantrum. I found myself developing “runs” through areas,
dispatching small enemies with such precision and ease, I could
replicate it quickly to increase my skill and strength before facing
off with a hard-hitting boss nearby.

You actually start to feel like you
might have some aptitude when you finally time a Mikiri Counter, and
stomp an enemy’s spear to the ground right before you run them
through. That said, the posture mechanic is both super compelling and
really fun to master, making each fight feel like a calculated dance
routine. Sekiro is a gem, and the world that unfurls as you
explore the myriad paths through the mysterious Ashina territory, and
the inhabitants within is dark and beautiful.

Pirates Outlaws

Pirate Outlaws is, in my
opinion, a rare exception in which an imitation exceeds that which it
imitates. Dangerously close to Slay The Spire, Pirates
Outlaws is a run-based card game in which you traverse a series
of islands leading up to a capstone boss you must overcome. As you
play, you unlock new cards, currency to buy different characters, and
new maps to explore. The Unity-based art style is really unique, and
the gameplay can be quick and exciting, as you discover new ways to
tweak your deck to create the most advantageous array of cards.

Admittedly, it also contains
microtransactions, but these simply speed up the grind of saving
enough currency to unlock more content. I love a good strategy game,
and this one certainly delivers. The fact that it’s also mobile is
a huge plus for me when the only time I have to game is during a
commute or waiting room drudgery.

Baba is You

Baba Is You is one of those
games that has its own language. In fact, I’d wager that there are
foundational concepts within that imitate a programming language. I
know that doesn’t do a lot to help sell the concept within Baba
Is You, but once you experience the cunning rules and consequent
breaking of said rules, this game practically sings. Never have I
felt so stupid, only to try something just out of pure
experimentation, then feel like a genius for having figured it out.

Baba Is You is an incredibly
unique puzzle game that rewards breaking boundaries, fundamentally
redefining the ingrained laws of video games in order to beat this
particular one. The occasional simplicity of the levels makes it easy
to knock out a few over lunch or when you find yourself with a few
minutes to play.

Void Tyrant

Void Tyrant’s art style draws
you in immediately and takes you on a ride across the galaxy that
pits you against various types of aliens, robots and humanoids in a
battle of wits. Objectively, you are essentially playing space
Blackjack, drawing numbers until you hit or exceed 12. Luckily, based
on the class you choose you have cards you can play that mitigate
loss, or bolster your offense to deal damage to the enemy you
encounter.

It’s a fun cycle to run through time
and time again with lots of replay value. Very few microtransactions
make this a rare mobile game that doesn’t revolve around constantly
bugging you to subscribe or purchase gems. Occasionally difficult,
always entertaining, Void Tyrant is a must-play for any fan of
the mobile genre.

Ring Fit Adventure

While Ring Fit Adventure may not
have a super compelling story, it’s enough to make you want to
continue thwarting the dark influence of Drageaux one squat at a
time. There’s lots of fun minigames that might have a place in a
high-energy house party. I picked this one due to the unique quality
of gameplay and the interesting interactivity of the peripherals that
come with the game.

The resistance ring and the leg strap
really provide a lot of dynamic motion sensing that is frankly
impressive. It’s a good time comparing your stats to your peers,
and on a global scale. It’s an excellent way to get up off of the
couch after grinding out a Sekiro boss for 3 hours, if nothing
else.

While this list is far from perfect,
it’s a definitive example of the games I spent the most time with
this year. Without a doubt, 2020 will be chock full of exciting new
experiences and games unlike we’ve played before. I certainly am
looking forward to some of the bigger titles like Animal Crossing:
New Horizons, and the Final Fantasy VII Remake, but will
definitely be keeping an eye out for sleeper hits. Here’s to
another year of awesome games!

Related

Jamie cut her teeth on Windows 95 classics like Jazz Jackrabbit, and Tyrion. She’s since abandoned the ’95 for a self-built PC, and a second-hand Xbox One. Jamie is a co-host on Super Gamecast 64, as well as a review and opinion article writer and loves games of all kinds.